Divot

Derek Andersen

Divot brings you weekly conversations with the people building the future—founders, creators, athletes, and visionaries pushing the limits of business, technology, sports, and entertainment. We go beyond success stories to explore the real moments that define a journey—the risks, the failures, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that can help you on your path. Stories of people making their mark, and how you can too. New episodes every Wednesday. #DivotPodcast #Business #Tech #Sports #Entertainment #Innovation

  1. #20: Founding Atari & Chuck E. Cheese, Shaping Silicon Valley, and Reinventing Education with AI

    20H AGO

    #20: Founding Atari & Chuck E. Cheese, Shaping Silicon Valley, and Reinventing Education with AI

    The journey from playful ideas to world-changing companies is never simple. Known as the father of the video game industry, the founder of Atari, and Chuck E. Cheese has spent five decades at the intersection of play, technology, and entrepreneurship. In this episode, he shares how fun, innovation, and relentless curiosity shaped Silicon Valley, and why the future of learning depends on making it fun. From pioneering the first home video games and building Atari into a cultural phenomenon, to creating Chuck E. Cheese and inspiring a generation of entrepreneurs, including Steve Jobs, he has shaped industries and defined eras. Today, his focus is on AI and education through his new venture, Exodexa, which he believes can transform how children learn by turning school into play. He reflects on the happy accidents that led him to Atari, the unconventional culture that made Atari thrive, and why playfulness is essential to creativity and innovation. He opens up about raising eight children, the lessons he learned from mentors like Intel's Bob Noyce, and why persistence and relentlessness have been his greatest tools in overcoming challenges. This is a raw and inspiring conversation for entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders who want to shape the future by rethinking what's possible. Nolan - X (Twitter): https://x.com/nolbushnellFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction3:10 - Childhood & influence of play7:30 - The early “happy accidents” that led to Atari12:45 - Chuck E. Cheese origin & branding17:50 - Short fun vs long fun in product design22:30 - Culture at Atari / Silicon Valley roots27:15 - AI's future and reinvention of education31:40 - Passion, intensity, and entrepreneurial mindset36:55 - Thoughts on raising eight children41:20 - Lessons from mentors, especially Bob Noyce45:30 - Advice on persistence and relentlessness50:10 - Legacy: fun, learning, and transformation Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Atari #ChuckECheese #ArtificialIntelligence #Education #Startups #Resilience #Innovation #SiliconValley #Gaming #FutureOfLearning

    55 min
  2. #19: Leading with Curiosity, Building Culture, and Finding Joy at Work

    OCT 8

    #19: Leading with Curiosity, Building Culture, and Finding Joy at Work

    Work is changing fast, but how do you build cultures and teams that thrive through it? In this episode, Anne Raimondi, COO and Head of Business at Asana, shares lessons from two decades leading fast-growth companies like Zendesk, SurveyMonkey, and TaskRabbit, serving on boards including Gusto and Patreon, and teaching leadership at Stanford GSB. She opens up about growing up as the child of immigrants, why curiosity became her leadership superpower, and how she balances ambition with humility. You'll hear her talk about building resilient culture, using humor in high-pressure rooms, navigating perfectionism, and bringing AI into teams with trust and clarity. Follow Anne Raimondi - X (Twitter): https://x.com/anneraimondi Follow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps: 0:00 - From San Jose roots to Asana's COO 1:13 - Childhood lessons from immigrant parents 2:21 - Seeing herself as a problem solver 2:46 - Curiosity as a leadership superpower 4:12 - Building advocacy with customers and employees 5:15 - Staying lighthearted in high-pressure rooms 7:19 - Using humor and honesty to diffuse tension 9:03 - Leading without yelling: turning up the right "dials" 11:04 - Rallying teams around the customer's voice 13:03 - What makes someone have outsized impact 14:34 - Healthy ambition vs. territorial behavior 17:24 - Why fun and joy matter at work 18:26 - Defining culture: mission + values + norms 20:17 - How to evaluate a company's culture 23:01 - Can you change culture or must you choose it? 24:34 - Leadership training and conscious leadership at Asana 26:07 - Serving on boards: how she got her first seat 29:07 - How board work makes you a better operator 33:49 - Why she wanted to be in the boardroom 33:57 - On being a "recovering perfectionist" 34:54 - Balancing family, career, and letting go of perfection 35:57 - What her kids might say about her work 39:45 - Privilege, gratitude, and immigrant perspective 39:45 - AI's impact on how teams are built 42:02 - How to bring AI into a resistant culture 43:19 - Asana's "AI first" approach 46:07 - The leader she most admires 48:16 - The one idea she'd implant in everyone's mind 49:08 - Hardest accomplishment: 30-year marriage 50:20 - Her best advice on resilience and bouncing back 50:55 - What she's most proud of in her career 52:02 - The measure of a life well lived 53:11 - The impact she hopes to leave on the world Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags: #DivotPodcast #Leadership #Culture #Curiosity #JoyAtWork #Asana #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #TeamBuilding #AI

    55 min
  3. #18: Building Angel, Disrupting Hollywood, and Surviving $60M Disney Lawsuit

    OCT 1

    #18: Building Angel, Disrupting Hollywood, and Surviving $60M Disney Lawsuit

    In this episode, Neal Harmon, CEO and co-founder of Angel, reveals how he went from a dairy farm in Idaho to building one of the fastest-growing entertainment companies in the world. Angel is behind global hits like Sound of Freedom, The Chosen, and Dry Bar Comedy — all chosen and funded by audiences, not executives. Neal shares the painful story of surviving a Disney lawsuit, why The Chosen split was harder than Disney, and how resilience, faith, and community helped Angel scale against all odds. He explains the secrets to viral storytelling, why constant testing wins, and how community-driven content is rewriting the rules of media. This is a story of resilience, disruption, and purpose, a blueprint for every builder, leader, and creator who wants to build something that lasts. Follow Neal Harmon - X (Twitter): https://x.com/nealsharmonFollow Derek - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps:0:00 - Intro: from Idaho farm to Hollywood disruptor2:30 - Why Angel gives audiences the power to greenlight stories6:00 - Building hits like Sound of Freedom, The Chosen, and Dry Bar Comedy10:00 - Lessons from AuraBrush, Squatty Potty, and viral ads15:00 - Surviving Disney's $62M lawsuit and crowdfunding $11M in 5 days21:00 - Why lawsuits can build resilience, not break it26:00 - The pain of The Chosen split and lessons learned33:00 - Angel Guild and the future of audience-driven entertainment38:00 - Preparing for AMGX: scaling with community investors44:00 - Family, faith, and raising 10 kids while building a company50:00 - What makes Angel Studios different from Hollywood55:00 - Neal's advice: why failure isn't real until you quit1:00:00 - Final reflections: leadership, humility, and legacy Follow Divot:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags:#DivotPodcast #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Resilience #AngelStudios #SoundOfFreedom #TheChosen #DryBarComedy #DisruptHollywood #BusinessStrategy #StartupStories #CommunityBuilding #FaithInBusiness

    1h 9m
  4. #17: Reinventing Traeger, Building Skullcandy, and Leading Through Crisis

    SEP 24

    #17: Reinventing Traeger, Building Skullcandy, and Leading Through Crisis

    The journey from startup to global brand is never easy, but it’s the moments of crisis that define true leaders. In this episode, Jeremy Andrus, CEO of Traeger Grills and former CEO of Skullcandy, shares how he transformed two consumer brands into icons. From taking Skullcandy public to reinventing Traeger into the world’s number one wood-pellet grill company, Jeremy reveals the resilience and grit required to lead through chaos, culture shifts, and the toughest year of his career after going public. We dive into the formula for building products people love, why culture and community fuel legendary brands, and how Jeremy redefined success from chasing money to creating meaning. He also opens up about raising a family of six, designing daily habits for strength, and why joy, not status, is the ultimate measure of life. This is a raw and inspiring conversation for entrepreneurs, leaders, and anyone who wants to build with purpose and lead with resilience. Follow Jeremy Andrus – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremy_andrus/Follow Derek – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: turning products into experiences2:00 – Food, community, and the emotional power of brand6:00 – Why Traeger is about more than grills10:00 – TVAC: the formula for building products that people love13:00 – From financial pressure to purpose-driven leadership18:00 – Sharing success with your team and rewarding loyalty26:30 – Surviving IPO challenges and leading through 202228:30 – Finding happiness while going through pain34:00 – Ego, humility, and separating identity from success40:00 – Family, partnership, and redefining balance48:00 – Morning routines, mini-habits, and building daily strength57:00 – Teaching grit and tenacity to the next generation1:03:00 – Core principles for building an authentic brand1:09:00 – Culture, community, and scaling values worldwide1:13:00 – Rapid fire: best advice, resilience, and measuring life Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DivotpodX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotpodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divotpodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg Hashtags #DivotPodcast #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #BusinessGrowth #BrandBuilding #WorkLifeBalance #PersonalGrowth #CommunityBuilding #Success #Traeger #Skullcandy

    1h 20m
  5. #16: AI Will Turn Every Business Into an AI Business (No Exceptions)

    JUN 25

    #16: AI Will Turn Every Business Into an AI Business (No Exceptions)

    The world is changing fast — and there’s no going back. In this episode, legendary Silicon Valley investor Navin Chaddha (Managing Partner at Mayfield) lays out a powerful prediction: “Every business will become an AI business — no exceptions.” We dive into what that really means for founders, industries, and the future of work. Navin introduces the concept of “vibe coding”, where 8 billion people can become builders — simply by describing what they want. He shares why SaaS is dying, how vertical AI models will dominate entire industries, and why physical AGI will transform the real world — from robots to logistics to healthcare. He also explains how billion-dollar companies will soon be built by teams of two or three people, thanks to the power of AI-native architecture. This episode is a wake-up call for every founder, builder, and leader who wants to stay ahead in the new AI era. Follow Navin Chaddha – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/NavinChaddha Follow Derek – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:38 - The Excitement of AI Technology 02:10 - The Future of Coding and Development 04:20 - Collaborative Intelligence in Action 05:00 - The Era of 8 Billion Builders 06:01 - Democratizing Entrepreneurship with AI 07:42 - The Impact on Venture Capital 08:54 - The Renaissance of Hardware 11:44 - AI's Role in Physical Applications 13:50 - Disruption in Home Appliances 19:20 - Barriers to Physical AGI 20:52 - Reimagining Industries with AI 26:15 - The Great Equalizer of AI Episode Partners: Salesforce Start faster with Salesforce Starter Suite. https://www.salesforce.com/form/signup/freetrial-salesforce-starter/?d=701ed000007ZTPhAAO Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/ #DivotPodcast #AI #VerticalAI #AGI #FutureOfWork #NavinChaddha #MayfieldFund #VibeCoding #StartupStrategy #Innovation #TechInvesting #SaaSIsDead

    28 min
  6. #15: Escaping Dictatorship, Hacking the Internet, and Building a World-Class AI Platform

    JUN 18

    #15: Escaping Dictatorship, Hacking the Internet, and Building a World-Class AI Platform

    How do you build an AI company trusted by the world's top enterprises, while surviving political oppression, hacking a country's internet, and rewriting the future of work? In this episode, Waseem Alshikh, co-founder and CTO of Writer, shares his extraordinary story. At 17, he launched his first startup in Syria — only to be imprisoned when the government tried to steal it for one dollar. In retaliation, he shut down the country's internet and fled to Lebanon. From there, he taught himself English, built groundbreaking NLP tools, and eventually launched one of the world's most trusted AI platforms. We explore how Writer built its own LLMs to serve enterprises like Uber, Deloitte, and Spotify; how AI agents are replacing outdated internal tools; and how a new generation of founders is reshaping pricing, trust, and innovation in the AI era. This episode is a masterclass in surviving chaos, scaling with focus, and building AI-first from Day One. Follow Waseem Alshikh - X (Twitter): https://x.com/waseem_s Follow Derek Andersen - X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to the Syrian Regime Collapse 00:49 - Early Success with Digital Mapping 01:42 - Government Takeover and Jail Experience 04:00 - Hacking the Internet for Revenge 05:36 - Escape to Lebanon and New Beginnings 06:44 - Learning English and Computer Science 08:08 - Transitioning to AI and Open Source 09:22 - Building Generative AI Models 10:15 - The Challenge of Language Localization 12:44 - Why We Built Our Own AI Models 13:30 - Enterprise Solutions and Customer Trust 18:04 - The Role of AI in Productivity 24:11 - Evolving Business Models in AI 28:35 - Future of AI in Regulated Industries 32:29 - Open Source vs. Proprietary AI 34:08 - Starting an AI Company Today 38:11 - The Journey from Startup to Growth Episode Partners: Salesforce Start faster with Salesforce Starter Suite. https://www.salesforce.com/form/signup/freetrial-salesforce-starter/?d=701ed000007ZTPhAAO Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/ #DivotPodcast #AI #Innovation #StartupJourney #EnterpriseAI #MissionDriven #Resilience #WriterAI #FutureOfWork #Leadership #CTO #SaaS #DerekAndersen

    40 min
  7. #14: Choosing Good Quests: Innovation, AI, and Winning in a World of Regulation

    JUN 11

    #14: Choosing Good Quests: Innovation, AI, and Winning in a World of Regulation

    How do you choose the right quest — the kind of mission that truly matters, and can survive in today’s world of regulation, politics, and entrenched incumbents? In this episode, Founders Fund General Partner and Anduril co-founder Trae Stephens shares his philosophy of “Good Quests” — and what entrepreneurs must get right when tackling hard, meaningful problems. We dive deep into how AI will transform defense and national security, why the future of warfare is distributed and AI-driven, and how entrepreneurs can navigate government sales and political opposition. From raising capital to surviving regulated markets, this is a tactical and inspiring conversation for anyone building in ambitious, frontier spaces. This episode is a masterclass in mission-driven entrepreneurship, AI strategy, and playing to win in a changing world. Follow Trae Stephens – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/traestephens Follow Derek Andersen – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersen Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: The Naivety of Building Products 0:20 - Welcome to Divot and Episode Overview 1:10 - Guest Introduction: Trae Stephens 1:32 - The Concept of Good Quests for Founders 3:50 - Identifying a Good Quest and Its Importance 6:40 - Market Size and Its Relevance to Good Quests 8:42 - Governance and Board Seats in Venture Capital 10:02 - Coaching Founders on Ethical Considerations 11:21 - Founding Anduril: Early Data Points and Insights 14:58 - Raising Capital: Strategies for Founders 17:55 - Selling to the U.S. Government and International Markets 21:18 - The Role of AI in Defense and Future Implications Episode Partners: Salesforce Start faster with Salesforce Starter Suite. https://www.salesforce.com/form/signup/freetrial-salesforce-starter/?d=701ed000007ZTPhAAO Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/ #DivotPodcast #AI #Innovation #DefenseTech #Entrepreneurship #GoodQuest #MissionDriven #StartupLessons #Regulation #Leadership #TraeStephens

    24 min
  8. #13: AI, Work, and the Future of Life: Lessons on Success, Resilience, and Reinvention

    JUN 4

    #13: AI, Work, and the Future of Life: Lessons on Success, Resilience, and Reinvention

    In this inspiring conversation, we explore how AI will transform the future of business and work, and what it means for us as humans. You’ll hear why AI will soon perform 80% of human jobs, why full AI-first tools will surpass today’s co-pilots, and why most of AI’s impact will happen outside of tech. But this is also a powerful life masterclass. From building billion-dollar startups to raising a family and staying energized at 70, we dive deep into resilience, happiness, and living an internally driven life. You’ll learn how to power through failure, lead through change, balance ambition with presence, and why the most significant measure of life is doing what you love. Follow Vinod Khosla – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/vkhosla Follow Derek – X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/derekjandersena Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to AI and Entrepreneurial Vision 05:01 - The Future of AI Development and Adoption 10:01 - AI's Impact on Business and Job Transformation 15:02 - AI as a Tool for Small Businesses and Innovation 20:00 - The Role of Startups and Disruption in AI 25:00 - Preparing for an AI-Driven Future 30:02 - Lessons from Building Tech Companies 35:01 - Staying Relevant and Evolving as an Investor 40:00 - Balancing Work, Family, and Personal Growth 45:01 - Long-Term Relationships and Life Priorities 50:00 - Measuring Success and Living Purposefully Episode Partners: Salesforce Start faster with Salesforce Starter Suite.https://www.salesforce.com/form/signup/freetrial-salesforce-starter/?d=701ed000007ZTPhAAO Follow Divot: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Divotpod X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/divotdotorg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divotdotorg TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divot.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/divotdotorg/ #DivotPodcast #AI #FutureOfWork #Entrepreneurship #Resilience #Leadership #SmallBusiness #Innovation #AGI #Mindset #Success

    52 min
See All (21)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Divot brings you weekly conversations with the people building the future—founders, creators, athletes, and visionaries pushing the limits of business, technology, sports, and entertainment. We go beyond success stories to explore the real moments that define a journey—the risks, the failures, the breakthroughs, and the lessons that can help you on your path. Stories of people making their mark, and how you can too. New episodes every Wednesday. #DivotPodcast #Business #Tech #Sports #Entertainment #Innovation

Information

  • Creator
    Derek Andersen
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Derek Andersen
  • Show Website
    Divot

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